Recognizing and Responding to Stalking in Later Life

A 2010 national study found that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men will be stalked in their lifetime. While stalking occurs across the lifespan, research indicates that approximately 10% of stalking victims are ages 50 – 64 and 4% are age 65 or older. Most stalking victims know their offenders. For older stalking victims, the offender may be current or former intimate partner, a relative, or an acquaintance, such as a current or former care giver. Victims of stalking in later life face unique challenges, including lack of dedicated services for stalking victims and lack of recognition of stalking among providers of services to older adults. This webinar will provide participants with an understanding of the dynamics of stalking, explore the challenges faced by victims of stalking in later life, and provide professionals with considerations for working with older stalking victims.In connection with this announcement, the presenters are requesting that you provide them with examples or brief descriptions of cases of stalking in later life from your community or based on your experience - by January 18, 2013, if possible. They are interested in including information about as many cases as possible in the webinar. They will redact identifying information. Please direct any case examples to Linda Dawson at ldawson@wcadv.org[2].